Selectively closable container closure

ABSTRACT

A closure for selectively closing an opening of a container including a base element arranged to be affixed to a container adjacent an opening therein. An insert having a through opening and defining a recess adjacent the opening is urged sealingly against the container about the opening with its through opening aligned with the container opening. A control element is provided having a pivot portion pivotally mounted to one of the base element and insert at the recess, a stopper portion adapted to be received in the insert opening when the control element is pivoted to a first position, and a presser portion adapted to be engaged by a user&#39;s fingertip to pivot the control element to withdraw the stopper portion from the insert opening and dispose the presser portion within the recess at a second position of the control element.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to container closures and in particular toclosures having movable means for selectively closing and opening of acontainer on which a closure is mounted.

BACKGROUND ART

In one conventional form of closure for controlling delivery of materialfrom a container, the closure is mounted in an opening in an upper wallof the container. The closure defines one or more openings which areselectively closed by an overlying flap. The flap is hingedly mounted tothe body of the closure and includes a projecting grasping portion whichis exposed when the flap is in the closed position to permit the user tograsp the grasping portion and swing the closure to an upwardly directedposition wherein the openings of the closure are exposed to permitpassing of material through the container opening and closure opening,such as in dispensing the material from the container.

A serious disadvantage arises in such structure in that the flap tendsto remain in somewhat overlying relationship to the openings of theclosure so as to inhibit the free flow of material therethrough.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention comprehends an improved closure for selectivelyclosing and opening of a container wherein means are provided formaintaining a control element portion of the closure in a fully openedposition against biasing action tending to urge the control elementtoward the closed position.

More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of such aclosure including a base element having means for affixation thereof toa container adjacent an opening in the container, an insert having athrough opening and defining a recess adjacent the opening, means on thebase element for urging the insert sealingly against the container aboutthe opening and with the through opening aligned with the containeropening, and a control element having a connecting portion swingablymounted to one of the base element and insert at the recess, a stopperportion adapted to be received in the insert opening when the controlelement is swung to a first position, and a presser portion adapted tobe engaged by a user's fingertip to pivot the control element towithdraw the stopper portion from the insert opening and dispose thepresser portion within the recess in a second position of the controlelement.

In the illustrated embodiment, the container comprises a bottle and theclosure is adapted to fit over the neck of the bottle, with the openingof the insert aligned with the distal end of the bottle neck.

The means for retaining the control element releasably in the openposition comprises a projection on the portion of the insert definingthe recess in the illustrated embodiment.

The control element, in the illustrated embodiment, is integrallyhingedly connected to the base member for selective pivotablepositioning in the closed first position and open second position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the presser portion of the controlelement is semicircular and the stopper portion comprises a tonguehaving a plug element depending from the distal end thereof.

The elements of the closure may be formed of resiliently deflectiblematerial so as to permit facilitated selective positioning and retentionof the control element.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base element comprises a cup-shapedelement fitted over the distal end of the neck of a bottle container andretaining the insert in sealed association with the end of the neck.

The recess portion of the insert extends into the open end of the bottleneck, whereby the transverse end of the base member extends generallyacross the open end of the bottle neck.

In the illustrated embodiment, the control element comprises an integralportion of the base element end wall.

Where the bottle neck is provided with a radially outer screw thread,the base element may be provided with a corresponding inwardly directedthread element.

The closures of the present invention are extremely simple andeconomical of construction, while yet providing the highly desirablefeatures discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a closure embodying a preferred form of theinvention mounted on a bottle container;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section thereof taken substantiallyalong the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of closureembodying the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIGS. 1and 2 of the drawing, a closure generally designated 10 is shown forselectively closing an opening 11 in a container generally designated12. In the illustrated embodiment, opening 11 defines the outer distalend of a neck 13 of a bottle container 12. As will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art, the inventive concept is adapted for use fordifferent forms of containers within the broad scope of the invention.

Closure 10 includes a base element generally designated 14 having meansfor affixation thereof to the container. In the illustrated embodiment,the affixation means comprises an internal thread 15 on a tubularportion 16 of the closure. Thread 15 cooperates with an outer thread 17on the bottle neck to secure the base element to the bottle neck, asseen in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

The base element further includes a transversely extending end wall 18extending across the distal end of the bottle neck when the closure isinstalled on the neck, as seen in FIG. 2. An insert generally designated19 is disposed inwardly of base element end wall 18 and includes anannular sealing portion 20 urged sealingly against the distal end 21 ofthe bottle neck by the end wall 18 of the base element. End wall 18 maybe provided with an annular inwardly directed rib 22 aligned with theseal rib 20 to provide sealing force directed through the body of theinsert to the sealing rib from the base element.

Insert 19 further defines a through opening 23 communicating with theopening 11 of the bottle neck. The midportion of base element end wall18 defines a control element 24 including a semicircular presser portion25, a pair of pivot portions 26, and a stopper portion 27. The stopperportion is provided with a depending plug 28 received in the insertopening 23 when the control element is in a first, closed position, asshown in full lines in FIG. 1.

Pivot portions 26 comprise aligned integral hinge connections atopposite sides of the stopper portion of the base element. Such hingeconnections are commonly referred to as living hinges and tend to urgethe control element toward the closed position as a result of theresiliency of the material. In the illustrated embodiment, the baseelement and insert are illustratively formed of resiliently deflectiblesynthetic resin, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.

The invention comprehends the further provision in insert 19 of a recessportion generally designated 30 projecting into the open end of thebottle neck 13, as seen in FIG. 2. The recess portion defines a well 31adapted to receive the presser portion 25 of the control element whenthe presser portion is depressed by the user's finger to withdraw theplug 28 form opening 23 and swing the control element 24 to a second,open position, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. The invention furthercomprehends the provision of means for releasably retaining the controlelement in the open position, whereby material may be delivered throughthe opening 23 free of impediment by the control element.

More specifically, as seen in FIG. 2, the recess portion 30 of theinsert is provided with an upstanding stop projection 32 cooperatingwith the peripheral edge portion 33 of the control element presserportion 25 to retain the control element in the upright open position ofFIG. 2 against the biasing action of the hinge portions 26. Theprojection 32 and edge portion 33 define resiliently yieldablecooperating portions of the base element and insert, permitting thecontrolled movement of the edge portion 33 past the projection 32 inmoving to and from the open position of the control element.

To restore the control element to the closed position of FIG. 2, theuser need merely press his finger against the stopper portion 27, thedeflectibility of the base member and insert permitting the movement ofedge portion 33 outwardly past the projection 32 in restoring the plug28 into closing relationship with opening 23.

It should be noted that hinge 26 tends to maintain the plug 28 in theopening 23 to further effect the desired closure of the opening when thecontrol element is in the closed position of FIG. 2.

The stiffness of the resiliently deflectible control element permits theplug 28 to have a friction fit with the insert in the opening 23 tofurther enhance the closure of the opening in the closed disposition ofthe control element.

The control element may be integrally formed with the remainder of thebase element, whereby the closure comprises a two-piece structure whichmay be economically formed by molding from suitable synthetic resins. Asshown in FIG. 2, the sidewall 16 of the base element may be providedwith an annular inturned flange 34 adapted to receive the peripheraledge portion 35 of the insert and thereby maintain the insert inassociation with the base element as during installation of the closureon the bottle neck.

In one modified form of the invention as disclosed in FIGS. 3 and 4 ofthe drawing, a closure generally designated 110 is shown to comprise aclosure generally similar to closure 10, but having a modified form ofconnecting means for swingably connecting the control element 124 to thebase element 114.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the control element is connectedto the base element by a pivot connection 126 defined by integral pivotconnections between the control element and the surrounding edge portion129 of the base element.

Thus, as seen in FIG. 4, the connection 126 comprises a twistableconnection permitting selective disposition of the control element inthe closed position shown in full lines in FIG. 4, and the open positionshown in broken lines in FIG. 4. Similarly as described relative toclosure 10, closure 110 is arranged to effectively retain the controlelement in the open position when desired.

In all other respects, closure 110 is similar to and functions in amanner similar to the functioning of closure 10. Elements of closure 110which are similar to corresponding elements of closure 10 are identifiedby the same reference numerals but 100 higher.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

I claim:
 1. A closure for selectively closing an opening of a container,said closure comprising:a base element having means for affixationthereof to a container adjacent an opening in the container; an inserthaving a through opening and defining a recess adjacent said insertopening; and means on said base element for securing said insertsealingly against the container about the container opening and withsaid through opening aligned with said container opening, said baseelement having formed unitarily integrally therein a control elementhaving a connecting portion swingably joined to said base element, astopper portion adapted to be received in said insert through openingwhen the control element is swung to a first position, and a presserportion adapted to be engaged by a user's fingertip to swing the controlelement to withdraw the stopper portion from said insert opening anddispose the presser portion within said recess in a second position ofthe control element.
 2. The closure structure of claim 1 wherein saidbase element defines an outer surface and said control element definesan outer surface disposed substantially flush with said base elementouter surface when the control element is disposed in said firstposition.
 3. The closure structure of claim 1 wherein said base elementdefines an outer surface and said control element defines an outersurface disposed substantially flush with said base element outersurface when the control element is disposed in said first position,said control element outer surface extending substantiallyperpendicularly to said base element outer surface in said secondposition.
 4. The closure structure of claim 1 wherein said base elementdefines a through opening and said control element is received fullywithin said opening in said first position.
 5. The closure structure ofclaim 1 wherein said control element defines a midportion and saidconnecting portion is disposed at said midportion.
 6. The closurestructure of claim 1 wherein said insert is formed of synthetic resin.7. The closure structure of claim 1 wherein said presser portion of thecontrol element is semicircular.
 8. The closure structure of claim 1wherein said stopper portion of the control element comprises a tonguedefining a distal end, and a plug element depending from said distalend.
 9. The closure structure of claim 1 wherein said connecting portionis pivotally mounted in said base element.
 10. The closure structure ofclaim 1 wherein said connecting portion is hingedly mounted in said baseelement.
 11. The closure structure of claim 1 adapted for selectivelyclosing the neck of a bottle, said base element comprising a cup-shapedbase element having a tubular sidewall, an end wall, and means on saidsidewall for affixation of the base element to the neck of a bottle withsaid end wall extending across the open end of the bottle neck, saidmeans on said base element for urging said insert comprising means forurging said insert sealingly against the distal end of the bottle neckabout the end opening of the neck and with said through opening alignedwith said bottle neck end opening, and said connecting portioncomprising a hinge portion hingedly mounted to said base element at saidrecess.
 12. The closure structure of claim 11 wherein said recessextends into the bottle neck when the insert is urged sealingly againstthe distal end of the bottle neck whereby said control element presserportion is received within the bottle neck in said second position ofthe control element.
 13. The closure structure of claim 11 wherein saidcontrol element comprises an integral portion of said base element endwall.
 14. A closure for selectively closing an opening of a container,said closure comprising:a base element having means for affixationthereof to a container adjacent an opening in the container; an inserthaving a through opening and defining a recess adjacent said insertopening; means on said base element for securing said insert sealinglyagainst the container about the container opening and with said throughopening aligned with said container opening, said base element havingformed unitarily integrally therein a control element having aconnecting portion swingably joined to said base element, a stopperportion adapted to be received in said insert opening when the controlelement is swung to a first position and a presser portion adapted to beengaged by a user's fingertip to swing the control element to withdrawthe stopper portion from said insert opening and dispose the presserportion within said recess in a preselected fully open second positionof the control element; and cooperating retaining means on said insertand said control element for releasably retaining said control elementin said preselected second position.
 15. The closure structure of claim14 wherein said retaining means comprises a projection on said insertand an edge portion of said control element.
 16. The closure structureof claim 14 wherein said retaining means comprises a projection on saidinsert in said recess and an edge portion of said control element. 17.The closure structure of claim 14 wherein said presser portion of thecontrol element defines a distal edge portion and a projection isprovided on said insert to be releasably engaged by said distal edgeportion.
 18. The closure structure of claim 14 wherein said retainingmeans comprises a projection on said insert in said recess and an edgeportion of said control element, said projection being disposed toretain said control element in said second position.
 19. The closurestructure of claim 14 wherein at least one of said insert and saidcontrol element is formed of resiliently deflectible material.
 20. Theclosure structure of claim 14 wherein said connecting portion of thecontrol element comprises an integral, twistable connection between saidcontrol element and said base element.
 21. The closure structure ofclaim 14 wherein said insert and control element are formed of syntheticresin.
 22. The closure structure of claim 14 wherein said connectingportion is pivotally mounted to said base element.
 23. The closurestructure of claim 14 wherein said connecting portion is hingedlymounted to said base element.